Cowboys' roster gets major boost on Wednesday
When the Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Damone Clark in the fifth round, a guy many had as a Day 2 pick, it looked at as one of the steals of the draft. Clark came with a little red flag, though, and that was the spinal fusion operation he had back in March to fix a […]
When the Dallas Cowboys selected linebacker Damone Clark in the fifth round, a guy many had as a Day 2 pick, it looked at as one of the steals of the draft. Clark came with a little red flag, though, and that was the spinal fusion operation he had back in March to fix a herniated disk, causing many to think he wouldn't play in 2022.
It's been seven months since Clark had his procedure done, and miraculously, he was activated to the Cowboys' 53-man roster on Wednesday.
Doctor Michael Boothby of the Orthopedic & Medicine Institute in Fort Worth, Texas, spoke with A to Z Sports Dallas morning show host Will "Skywalker" Steele back in May to provide some in-depth context about the injury, stating the window for recovery was anywhere from 6-12 months for a contact athlete with Clark's injury.
Cowboys' executive vice president Stephen Jones has always believed that Clark had a chance to be back within that timeframe and contribute as a rookie and not take a redshirt season.
“He’ll miss six months from his time in surgery,” director of player personnel Stephen Jones said after Clark was drafted. “This is a guy who works, works, works. Football is very important to him. Very committed to getting back, and he’s going to work through his injuries. If anything, he’s going to be one of those guys who’s ahead of schedule.”
Clark brings an impressive skill set to the Cowboys' defense. He is a thumper at middle linebacker who shoots through gaps to stop the run, can shed blockers with his physicality, and is a sure tackler. With the Cowboys' having a stud like Micah Parsons who can be dominant as an edge rusher, Clark can allow him to be even more productive in that aspect because of his ability to navigate sideline to sideline on the second level.
The next thing is to get Clark fully acclimated into Cowboys' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme from a physical standpoint to make sure he's fully ready to go. Once that happens, one of the NFL's best defenses will be that much more formidable.
Feature image via Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
